Friday, September 19, 2003

Yesteray I didn't post becuae I wasn't really into it. Today I really want to (and have tons of stories to share), but real work has just called me away. Maybe towards the end of the work day (West Coast time), but I'd put my bets on Monday.

Sorry.
posted by Randy on 12:04 PM | permanent link to this entry

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

• Comedy Goldmine: "Parodied iPod Ads"
  Really funny stuff.
  
  
• Samsung, Napster teaming up
  As the Apple iTunes Store is to the iPod, so shall Napster be to this device-- once the company fianlly re-launches. Speaking of which, they're posting up some funny Flash animations on their site to get folks psyched for the relaunch.
  
  
• History of Rock Written By The Losers
  I believe the David Lee Roth quote goes something like: "The reason all the critics love Elvis Costello is because they look just like him." The above linked story from The Onion takes it to the next logical extreme.
  
  
• Last Albums by Zevon, Cash Fly Off Shelves
  Death as a career move. It is now as it was then as it ever shall be.
  
  
• Earle, Bragg, Morello Demand 'Truth'
  Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Tom Morello and Lester Chambers of The Chamber Brothers will tour together in November (though Morello won't join up until Nov. 11) for a jaunt designed to raise awareness about what's really going on in Iraq. Why these singer/songwriters know what the rest of us don't is kind of a mystery, but I suppose that is what the tour is for.
  
  
• Mellencamp Documentary Heads To TRIO
  "Trouble No More," a documentary about the making of John Mellencamp's latest album, will premiere on TRIO on Oct. 4. This brings up something I've been meaning to point out for a while now-- TRIO broadcasts music documentaries and concerts every weekday in the morning and afternoon hours. Check your local listings or the TRIO web site for more details. Dollars to donuts says this all changes once NBC buys Universal (TRIO's parent company), but for the moment there are lots of good things to watch (and is almost reason enough to invest in a Tivo or DirecTivo)
  
  
• Eminem Gets Sued ... By A Little Old Lady
  Dear Dr. Dre,
  
  Please clear your samples and interpolations or save the stuff that is eaisly identifiable for more underground artists. It's just gotta be cheaper than dealing with the lawsuits.
  
  Just some advice,
  
  Randy
  
  P.S.-- Since this lady is suing you over Eminem's "Guily Conscience," I'd be on the look out for whoever owns the copyright on that "I love him! I love him! And where he goes I'll follow! I'll follow!" song. They've gotta be after you for "Guilty Conscience" as well.
  
  
• Pink's New Album Details
  Try This is due on November 10. The bulk of the album is a collab with Rancid 's Tim Armstrong, though Linda Perry and Beck also contributed tracks. Pink and Tim Armstrong? Whoa.
  

Sorry 'bout the lack of Amazon links today. I'm too lazy.
posted by Randy on 12:09 PM | permanent link to this entry

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

Today's Releases Of Note:

• Thirteenth Step- A Perfect Circle
  
• Deliverance- Bubba Sparxxx
  
• Reality - David Bowie (features a covers of Jonathan Richman's "Pablo Picasso" and the Ronnie Spector rarity "Try Some, Buy Some")
  
• Sympathy for the Devil Remixes [HYBRID SACD] [CD-SINGLE]- The Rolling Stones (the classic rock song remixed by The Neptunes, Fatboy Slim and Full Phatt )
  
• Worldwide Underground- Erykah Badu
  
• Grand Champ- DMX
  
• War All the Time- Thursday
  
• In Reverie- Saves the Day
  
• Identity Crisis- Shelby Lynne
  
• Cheers - Obie Trice
  
• Me & My Brother- Ying Yang Twins
  
• So Damn Happy- Aretha Franklin
  
• Before Everything & After- MXPX
  
• Last Day of Summer- Barely Pink (pretty decent power pop)
  

Get Your Pre-Order On (Next Week's Releases of Note)

• Speakerboxxx/The Love Below- Outkast
  
• Results May Vary (w/ Bonus DVD) - Limp Bizkit
  
• Some Devil - Dave Matthews
  
• Want One - Rufus Wainwright
  
• Stumble Into Grace- Emmylou Harris
  
• North- Elvis Costello
  
• Louisiana Hayride: Live Recordings- Johnny Cash (vintage live recordings from late, great Man In Black.)
  
• Louisiana Hayride: Live Recordings- June Carter (vintage live recordings.)
  
• The R in R&B Collection Vol. 1 - R. Kelly (greatest hits collection with all the right remixes included).
  
• In Other's Words - Dwight Yoakam (a compilation of previously released covers and soundtack contributions that is, strangely enough, missing his biggest hit-- a cover of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," as well as his version of "Suspicious Minds" from the "Honeymoon in Vegas" soundtrack.)
  
• Duck Season Vol 2 - DJ Babu (of Dialated Peoples and The Beat Junkies)
  
• Bazooka Tooth- Aesop Rock
  
• How We Do- Das EFX
  
• Murphy's Law- Murphy Lee
  
• Doll Revolution- The Bangles (the reunion album, with all new material.)
  
• Tacos Deluxe - Fabulous Thunderbirds
  

And Now...The News!

• The Tuesday Three As Chosen By Randy "Rocktober" Reiss
  Hey, look! I'm a published writer!
  
  
• Senate Approves Measure to Undo FCC Rules
  Woo-hoo! And now to the House, where it faces an uncertain fate. And even if it passes then, Bush has vowed to veto it. Big win of a battle in a long war, though.
  
  
• SBC Won't Name Names in File-Sharing Cases (N.Y. Times free registration required.) and
  Judges Weigh Music Industry Subpoenas
  Both stories give us hope that finally the powers that be are beginning to see that giving the R.I.A.A. legalized vigilante powers might not have been the smartest,or most legal, of ideas.
  
  
• Westerberg Looks Forward To 'Folker'
  While Dead Man Shake is due on Oct. 21 (and can be pre-ordered here), Paul Westerburg has already completed his next album, which he intends to title Folker. The above link has lots of details.
  
  
• The Offspring Change Album Title
  When they jacked Chinese Democracy from Guns n' Roses, I laughed long and hard. They shoulda stuck to their (pardon the pun) guns-- the album will now be called Splinter and will come out on Dec. 2
  
  
• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Off Ruthless, Working On New LP & Deal
  Just as I suspected, the group claims that things got shady at Ruthless Records after Eazy-E died. Also: on-again/off-again member Bizzy Bone is apparently still out. Long lost member Flesh-N-Bone didn't even merit a mention. Fot those keeping track of the various Bones-- this leaves been Krazy, Lazy and Wish.
  
  
• MTV's The Leak Hook You Up!
  Full albums in streaming realAudio before they are officially released. For example, not sure if the new OutKast double album will be worth the cabbage? Check for yourself, homie!
  

And in non-music news:
- Showtime Revives 'Dead' Like Me for 2nd Year
Wooo-hoo!

-Inside Move: CBS speeds to 'Amazing' 5th race
Double woo-hoo! Apply here, wanna-be-world-travelers!
posted by Randy on 11:29 AM | permanent link to this entry

Monday, September 15, 2003

• 2004 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees Set
  And your nominees are: George Harrison, Prince, John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne, The Sex Pistols, Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gram Parsons, Patti Smith, The Dells, The "5" Royales, Bob Seger, The Stooges, Traffic and ZZ Top. I think they usually induct five acts per year. If I had my druthers:
  
  Prince
  The Sex Pistols
  Black Sabbath
  The Stooges
  Patti Smith
  
  
• Zwan Gone
  Billy Corgan has disbanded Zwan after just one album.
  
  
  
• R.Kelly compares himself to bin Laden
  "They can criticize you without even knowing you, and hate you when they don't even know you. All of a sudden, you're, like, the bin Laden of America. Osama bin Laden is the only one who knows exactly what I'm going through." He says it in the October issue of Blender.
  
  
• Wave Of New Tupac Material Hitting Stores And Streets
  Oct. 7 brings Death Row Presents 2Pac Nu-Mixx Klazzics, while Nov. 4 is the current release date for the soundtrack to "Tupac: Resurrection." The above linked article also gives pretty good behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making Tupac records long after the man has gone on to his great reward.
  
  
• Clear Channel's Reach Defined
  StainMaster Productions does a ghreat job in the above lnked post of showing Clear Channel's true reach vs. the numbers they claim they reach. Hint: it's more than they're letting on.
  
  
• You Are So Sued!
  TechTV has a list of everyone who is being sued by the R.I.A.A., divided by region. See if you can find your friends and family!
  
  
• Andrew W.K. Works The Phones
  You may have heard that Andrew W.K. agreed to call 1,000 people who pre-ordered his latest album, The Wolf. Well, he's gone the extra mile and is posting the results on a web site. Not much there yet, but give him time.
  

posted by Randy on 12:54 PM | permanent link to this entry